Lt. Richard W. Dowling's Report to Capt. Benjamin Odlum
Battle of Sabine Pass
FORT GRIFFIN, Sabine Pass, September 9, 1863.
CAPTAIN: On Monday morning, about 2 o'clock, the enemy were signaling, and
fearing an Attack, l ordered all the guns at the fort manned, and remained
in that position until daylight, when there were two steamers evidently
sounding for the channel on the bar; a large frigate outside. During the
evening they were re-enforced to the number of twenty-two vessels of
different classes.
On the morning of the 8th, the U.S. gunboat Clifton anchored opposite the
light-house, and fired twenty-six shell at the fort, all in excellent range,
one shell landing on the works and another striking the south angle of the
fort without doing any material damage. The firing commenced at 6:30 o'clock
and finished at 7:30 o'clock when the C. S. gunboat Uncle Ben steamed down
near the fort. The U. S. gunboat Sachem opened on her with a 30-pounder
Parrott gun. She fired three shots which passed over the fort and missed the
Ben. The whole fleet then drew off, and remained out of range until 3:40
o'clock, when the Sachem and Arizona steamed into line up the Louisiana
channel, the Clifton and one boat, name unknown, remaining at the junction
of the two channels. I allowed the two former boats to approach within 1,200
yds, when I opened fire with the whole of my battery on the Sachem which,
after the third or fourth round, hoisted the white flag, one of the shots
passing through her steam drum. The Clifton in the meantime had attempted to
pass up through Texas Channel, but receiving a shot which carried away her
tiller rope, she became unmanageable and grounded about 500 yds. below the
fort which enabled me to concentrate all my guns on her, two 32-pounder
smooth-bores; two 24-pounder smooth-bores and two 32-pounder howitzers. She
withstood our fire some 25 or 35 minutes, when she also hoisted a white
flag. During the time she was aground, she used grape, and her sharpshooters
poured an incessant shower of Minie balls into the works. The fight lasted
from the time I fired the first gun until the boats surrendered - about
three-quarters of an hour. l immediately boarded the captured Clifton, to
inspect her magazines, accompanied by one the ship's officers and discovered
it safe and well stocked with ordnance stores. l did not visit the magazine
of the Sachem, not having any small boat to board her with. The C. S.
gunboat Uncle Ben steamed down to the Sachem and towed her into the wharf
Her magazine was destroyed by the enemy flooding it.
I was nobly and gallantly assisted by Lt. N. H. Smith, of the Engineer
Corps, who by his coolness and bravery won the respect and admiration of the
whole command. Ass't. Surg. George H. Bailey, having nothing to do in his
own line, nobly pulled off his coat and assisted in administering Magruder
pills to the enemy, behaving with great coolness. During the engagement the
works were visited by Capt. F. H. Odlum, commanding post; Maj. (Col. ) Leon
Smith, commanding Marine Department of Texas. Capt. W. S. Good, ordnance
officer, and Dr. Murray, acting ass't. surgeon, with great coolness and
gallantry, enabled me to send re-enforcements, as the men were becoming
exhausted by the rapidity of our fire; but before they could accomplish
their mission, the enemy surrendered. Thus, it will be seen we captured with
47 men two gunboats, mounting thirteen guns of the heaviest caliber, and
about 350 prisoners. All my men behaved like heroes; not a man flinched from
his post. Our motto was "victory or death." I beg leave to make particular
mention of Private M Michael McKernan, who, from his well-known capacity as
a gunner, l assigned as gunner, and nobly did he do his duty. It was his
shot struck the Sachem in her steam drum. Too much praise cannot be awarded
Maj. (Col.) Leon Smith for his activity and energy in saving and bringing
the vessel into port.
I have the honor, captain, to remain in your most obedient servant,
Back to the SCV Camp #1295 Home Page